31 December 2016

Ecumenical voices

Here is another quotation from a friendly non-RC theologian:

"Benedict exudes holiness, whereas Bergoglio has felt like an empty fake from the beginning ... where will this all end? Most likely there is no going back for either side at this point. The great drama impacts the whole of Christendom, and I have a deep-down sense that the ultimate outcome will aid the course of Christian Unity."

I am sure that there are non-Catholics who are gleeful about Bergoglio because they see him, rightly or wrongly, as leading the Catholic Church into the same grim antinomian apostasies which began to afflict Protestantism in the 1930s. But there clearly are other non-Catholics who do not have this sick agenda, and who perceive that the "Absolute Monarchy" Papacy preached to us by Bergoglian Hypersuperueberpapalists is as dangerous as it is unattractive. Perhaps when we emerge from this horribly dark tunnel our relationship with those Protestants who sympathised and prayed for us in our bad days will be transformed. Why should it not be?

11 comments:

In a recorded talk which Scott Hahn gave in the early 1990s he quoted Cardinal Avery Dulles to the effect that ecumenism had become the preserve of those who no longer believed in the historic faith of their Churches. Hahn commented that the future for ecumenism lay in dialogue between orthodox Catholics and Evangelical Protestants and went on to list the many things we have in common. There is a magazine (online as well as in print) which is produced in Scotland. It is called Open House. It is written by just the sorts of Catholics and Protestants whom Dulles was referring to. They have far more in common with each other than they do with the others in their own Churches.

Sometimes I feel that the Church today is like it was in the 4th Century A.D. and Arianism was widespread. Who would I believe? Who would I adhere to? Who could I trust?

Of course I have many more advantages than the simple, rural believer of circa 425 A.D. I have been instructed in the Faith by orthodox teachers. I have studied Theology and Philosophy. My parents and siblings took their Faith seriously – practicing it religiously. I have had good examples.

Am I likely to be led astray by the vagaries of priests, bishops and yea, even Popes…?Not hardly! But one’s faith is fragile – a gift - and never to be taken for granted. But I take St. Paul’s words seriously:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.”

While much attention is paid to the "infallibilty" claims of the Pope in Pastor Aeternus, less is sadly paid to his claim of universal, immediate and supreme jurisdiction. Ate there any limits to this claim? Do tell, for it would appear there are none; if this is indeed the case, is not the current occupant acting as he should, and any who resist are indeed more wrong than right?

I had the misfortune to become a Roman Catholic during the papacy of Pope John Paul II - and succumbed like the calf of a beef cow to all that he said and referenced. I then was given the gentle, scholarly, grandfather who so clearly had been immersed in an intimate personal relationship with our Lord and who gifted me with the support and guidance to follow his example.

But now....I am thankful for the two previous popes who have so clearly laid out the path for us. It's our job to maintain and extend the means for each and every person's journey to God.

While much attention is paid to the "infallibilty" claims of the Pope in Pastor Aeternus, less is sadly paid to his claim of universal, immediate and supreme jurisdiction. Ate there any limits to this claim? Do tell, for it would appear there are none; if this is indeed the case, is not the current occupant acting as he should, and any who resist are indeed more wrong than right?

I agree as to what ecumenism had become, though I think that the Ordinariate is what has happened and will happen, even if in the end it is not entire bodies of Protestant communions returning to Rome. With respect to Dr. Hahn, Americans often make the bed with Evangelicals, who for other reasons than held by those who remain Anglican, refuse to swim the Tiber, so I am wary of this kind of talk.

May I suggest to one and all that it is most worthwhile to have a read of Vladimir Soliev's strangely prophetic "A Short Tale of the Antichrist", a work which posits the re-unification of Christendom. This piece and author were particular favourites of Pope Benedict XVI.

Stephen: While I would welcome comment from others more acquainted with the subject, it seems to me that "jurisdiction" is a technical term relating to aspects of Church governance, and has no bearing on determining questions of faith or morals. Hence the fact that the jurisdiction of the Pope is dealt with as a separate matter from (doctrinal) infallibility. "Universal" simply means "across the whole world", not "in every possible field".

Fr John Hunwicke

was for nearly three decades at Lancing College; where he taught Latin and Greek language and literature, was Head of Theology, and Assistant Chaplain. He has served three curacies, been a Parish Priest, and Senior Research Fellow at Pusey House in Oxford. Since 2011, he has been in full communion with the See of S Peter. The opinions expressed on this Blog are not asserted as being those of the Magisterium of the Church, but as the writer's opinions as a private individual. Nevertheless, the writer strives, hopes, and prays that the views he expresses are conformable with and supportive of the Magisterium. In this blog, the letters PF stand for Pope Francis.